China Carfentanil Ban Could Have Big Impact On U.S. Opioid Crisis03:42

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In this photo provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a member of the RCMP opens a printer ink bottle containing the opioid carfentanil imported from China, in Vancouver. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police via AP)

China on Thursday announced that as of March 1, carfentanil and three other similar substances would be effectively banned. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency says the news could be a “game-changer” for the opioid epidemic in the U.S., which has been hit hard by the use of synthetics like carfentanil.